Parasite Transmission in Social Interacting Hosts: Monogenean Epidemics in Guppies
Author Information
Author(s): Johnson Mirelle B., Lafferty Kevin D., van Oosterhout Cock, Cable Joanne
Primary Institution: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
Hypothesis
How does host density affect the probability of epidemics in guppies infected with Gyrodactylus turnbulli?
Conclusion
In social hosts like guppies, the frequency of social contact largely governs disease epidemics independent of host density.
Supporting Evidence
- Epidemics were more likely when the primary infected fish had a high mean intensity and duration of infection.
- Female guppies contracted infections sooner than males, likely due to their higher propensity for shoaling.
- The probability of an epidemic did not significantly increase with host density.
Takeaway
When guppies are infected with a parasite, how many get sick depends more on how much they interact with each other than on how many there are in the tank.
Methodology
Guppies were maintained at different densities and monitored for parasite transmission and infection dynamics.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to the artificial environment and limited sample sizes in some treatments.
Limitations
The study was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions, which may not reflect natural settings.
Participant Demographics
Guppies were F2/F3 generation ornamental fish, standardized for size and bred in parasite-free conditions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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